UCD Woodland Walks Map and Guide - University College Dublin

Glenomena Walk – 1.9km, duration 20-25 minutes
This walk joins 3.6 hectares of established woodland on campus
including Belfield Wood which runs alongside Belfield House,
Merville Wood which is located alongside Merville House
(NovaUCD) and Foster’s Avenue Wood. The path includes the
tree lined avenue to Merville House (a Georgian style, two
storey ‘country villa’) and the Lime Walk.
Boundary Woodland Walk – 6.2km, duration 60-70 Minutes
Bringing the walks together, the 6.2km Boundary Woodland
Walk extends around the perimeter of the campus to form a
path linking the original and recently-developed woodland
areas with the wider campus landscape. Starting at the N11
entrance, the walk reveals some of the hidden treasures of
the campus, such as the wildflower meadow and lakes at
Woodview, the Arboretum, UCD’s growing collection of
sculpture, a diverse array of wildlife and many of the original
period houses.
Willow. Similar planting is also seen between the Glenomena and
Merville residences and by the UCD Crèche.
Whether it be the woodland by Foster’s Avenue, the venerable
Horse Chestnut with its large branches leaning ground-wards near
Woodview House or the lone Pine tree by the Daedulus Building,
trees are an integral part of UCD’s Belfield Campus.
Birds and Insects
The woodlands, wetlands, wildflower meadows and mown
grass areas around the campus provide a variety of habitats for
birds, mammals, insects and other wildlife. Most of the common
woodland birds breed on campus.
The woodland walks provide views of some birds that are difficult
to see in gardens, such as Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Long-tailed
Tit, Goldcrest, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Treecreeper and
Bullfinch, with Waxwing, Siskin, and Brambling as possible winter
visitors. Holly Blue, Orangetip, Speckled Wood, Tortoiseshell
and Peacock butterflies avail of the variety of plants found in the
woodlands and wildflower meadows of the campus, as do many
wild bees. Some of these insects have quite specific food plant
requirements. The wildflower meadows also provide food for
Woodpigeons and Finches, such as Goldfinches, Greenfinches and
Linnets.
Green Veined White Butterfly captured feeding on campus
A great variety of wildlife is present on the various lakes and
areas of wetlands on campus. Common waterfowl such as
Mute Swan, Mallard and Tufted Duck and also Moorhen, Blackheaded
Gull and Pied Wagtail can be seen on open water. Birds
such as Grey Heron, Teal, Kingfisher and Water Rail may be
present, especially in winter. The Common Chaser Dragonfly
is also evident and occasionally the large and impressive
Moorland Hawker Dragonfly breeds on campus.
In winter, the playing pitches can attract coastal wading birds,
such as Curlew and Oystercatcher to feed. Fieldfares and
Redwings can also be seen. In spring these birds are replaced by
breeding Blackbirds, Song Thrushs and Mistle Thrushs, collecting
worms to feed their chicks.
Sparrowhawk photographed on campus